Tool for removing ring travellers

ABSTRACT

A tool to easily replace ring travellers without damaging flange members on which the travellers are mounted. The tool has a holding action. One tool comprises a pair of shaft members. The shaft members are pivotably connected. The portions of the shaft members at one side of the pivot form a pair of operating handles, and at the other side a pair of aligned projecting elements adapted to engage a ring traveller on its inner opposed sides whereby on closure of said handles, the said projecting elements open and thereby open the said inner opposed sides. The handles are preferably bent with respect the to the projecting elements for ease of manipulation. The projecting elements are preferably provided with guard members.

mite States Patent Sanchez et al.

[54] TOOL FOR REMOVING RING TRAVELLERS [72] Inventors: Francois Sanchez,1390 Mayrand St.; Martial Jutras, 33 St. Marcel, both of Drummondville,Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,051

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,636,448 7/1927 Whipple..29/207 1 Aug. 29, 1972 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. EagerAttorney-Thomas J. Morgan and Stephen Murphy ABSTRACT A tool to easilyreplace ring travellers without damaging flange members on which thetravellers are mounted. The tool has a holding action.

One tool comprises a pair of shaft members. The shaft members arepivotably connected. The portions of the shaft members at one side ofthe pivot form a pair of operating handles, and at the other side a pairof aligned projecting elements adapted to engage a ring traveller on itsinner opposed sides whereby on closure of said handles, the saidprojecting elements open and thereby open the said inner opposed sides.The handles are preferably bent with respect the to the projectingelements for ease of manipulation. The projecting elements arepreferably provided with guard members.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 9 1972 INVENTORS FrancoisSANCHEZ Martial .BUTRAS TOOL FOR REMOVING RING TRAVELLERS This inventionrelates to a tool for removing or replacing ring travellers.

A ring traveller may be defined as a C-shaped element or an elementfabricated from wire, substantially rectangular in shape and having thecentral portion of one of the long rectangle sides removed. The unbrokenside of the rectangle functions as a guide wherein yarn is able tocirculate. Ring travellers are mounted on flange members of highlypolished ring rails. The ring rails themselves surround spinning bobbinsand reciprocate along the bobbins while the ring travellers rotatearound the rings at rates of many thousands revolutions per minute.These ring travellers rapidly wear out and they are regularly removedand replaced by new ones.

The instrument generally used to remove ring travellers consists of twoflat elongated members spaced apart and having at each end a notch toreceive a flange portion of a ring traveller. The instrument operates bypressing on a ring rail. Occasionally scratches are produced on thesurface of such a rail. As a result, the function of the ring travelleris hindered and polishing of the ring rail becomes necessary. Also, thering travellers thus disengaged are difficult to remove and, onceremoved, are easily lost as they tend to spring and fly away.

To overcome these difficulties, the applicant has invented a new toolfor replacing ring travellers. This tool exerts no pressure on the ringrails and thereby eliminates scratches and problems related therewith.With this new tool, pressure is exerted only by the tool and solely onthe ring travellers. This tool is generally easier to manipulate. Thering travellers may generally be removed more rapidly and very easilywith very remote danger of flying, as is often the case with a standardtool.

Broadly stated, the tool for replacing ring travellers comprises a pairof pivotally connected shaft members, portions of said shaft members atone side of said pivot forming a pair of operating handles, and theportion of the members at the opposite side of the pivot forming a pairof aligned projecting elements adapted to hold a ring traveller on itsinner opposed sides, whereby on closure of said handles, the saidprojecting elements open and thereby open the said inner opposed sidesof the ring traveller. Preferably, near the pivot, the handles are bentwith respect to said projecting elements in order that the projectingelements of the tool be easily introduced between the bobbin and thering rail and that for better manipulation, the handles be outwardlydirected and above the ring rail.

In another embodiment, an angle of about 3060, and preferably 45, existsbetween an imaginary plane drawn parallel to the end faces of theprojecting elements and a second imaginary plane drawn across thehandles so that when the projecting elements are engaged with the sidesof a ring traveller, the handles are positioned so as to easemanipulation.

In another embodiment, the projecting elements are tapered for betteraccess to said ring travellers. Still in another embodiment, the taperedprojecting elements are provided with means for locking in said ringtravellers; a recess for instance.

In another embodiment, the projecting elements are provided with guardmembers.

In another embodiment, the guard members are so shaped that theycooperate when the projecting elements are extended to hold a ringtraveller in an erected position or a position perpendicular withrespect to the sides of the projecting elements to be in contact withring rails. 1

In other embodiments, the tool is provided with means to urge away theoperating handles and means to control the projecting elements so thaton closure, the projecting elements are able to enter near the cornersdefined between the long side of a ring traveller and its adjacentsides, and on opening, the projecting elements allow jest the necessaryextension of the ring traveller to permit its passage onto or out of thering rail.

In another preferred embodiment, the sides of the projecting elements,to be in contact with a ring rail, are. curved to snugly fit into theshape of the circular ring rail.

Referring now to Figures which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool in operation to unlock atraveller guide on a ring rail, the tool being held with transparenthand.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the tool of FIG. 1 showing the arrangementof the tool between the ring rail and the ring traveller.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view taken along long 3-3 of FIG. 2showing the front view of the tool.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view taken along 4-4 of FIG. 2 of the toolwith the handles partly broken away.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along 5.5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the area surrounding projecting elements, withthe projecting elements opened and in the process of unlocking a ringtraveller.

FIG. 7 is a view of the partially disengaged assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower portion of the tool in open position.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the opposite face of the lower portion of thetool in open position.

Referring now to FIG. I, a tool 10 is illustrated, the tool to beinserted between ring rails 14 and bobbin 16 to remove ring traveller 18which carried a yarn to be spun (not shown), along 14a during operation.

As shown in FIG. 2 the tool 10 comprises a pair of shaft members 20 and22 running alongside and being connected by pivot 24. The shaft members20 and 22 respectively form projections 25 and 26, (better seen in FIG.9) but other means may be used to secure the pivot 24 to the shaftmembers 20 and 22. The shaft members, however, need substantiallyparallel alignment when handles 28 and 30 are closed, whereby theprojecting elements 32 and 34 (better shown in FIG. 3 and 8), areinversely open. The handles 28 and 30 may be curved so that they becomfortably held in the right hand of an operator between the thenareminence and the fingers. Obviously, left-handed tools are alsocontemplated. A spring 36, or any other means for urging said handles,though not necessary, is preferred for maintaining the projectingelements 32 and 34 closed. In order to have better accessibility to thering traveller 18, the handles 28 and 30 are preferably bent away fromthe bobbin 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the handles may bebent near the pivot region to form with the side of the projectingelements to be adjacent to the ring rail, at an angle greater than 90(so that no interference occurs with the bobbin) and preferably 120- 150. 4

For greater ease of manipulation, the operating handles 28 and 30 mayalso be inclined so that an angle a of about 3060, and preferably 45,exists between an imaginary plane [3 formed parallel to the front ends40 and 42 of the projecting elements 32 and 34, (better shown in FIG. 4and 5), and a plane A parallel to the operating handles 28 and 30. Thusthe handles form an angle with the front end of the projecting elementsso that when the projecting elements are engaged with the sides of aring traveller, the handles lean backward.

As shown in FIG. 3 and 8, the projecting elements 32 and 34 aregenerally tapered in order to present the same more easily to the innersurface of the short sides of a ring traveller. In a preferredembodiment, the points of the projecting elements, in a contracted orresting position, are aligned to receive the corners of a ring travelleras seen in FIG. 8. Preferably these tapered projecting elements areprovided with recesses 44 and 46 to lock in ring travellers when theyare removed.

As shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the projecting elements may also be providedwith guard members 48 and 50 for easily inserting holding guidetravellers and to force the perforated side of the ring traveller aheadfor easy insertion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper guard members 48 may also be so shaped asto press on the V-shaped extension 49 generally encountered on a ringtraveller 18 thereby holding the traveller in a position substantiallyperpendicular to the faces 32 and 34 to be in contact with the ring rail14b and thereby enabling greater ease for the introduction or theremoval of a new ring traveller into a ring rail, as shown at FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, preferably the front end of the sides of theprojecting elements 320 and 34a to be in contact with a ring rail, arecurved to snugly fit into the shape of the circular ring rail.

Preferably, as seen in FIG. 9, the tool may also comprise an adjustable(or if preferred, fix) guiding means 52 or the like to control the path54 traced out by the projecting elements 32 and 34 so that on opening,these projecting elements allow just the necessary extension of the ringtraveller to permit their passage on or out of the ring rail.

Preferably, also, the tool may comprise some means such as projections32b or 50b so that on closure, the projecting elements 32 and 34 areable to enter just inside the comers defined between the long side of aring traveller and its adjacent sides.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A tool for replacing ring travellers comprising:

a pair of shaft members, 4

said shaft members being pivotally connected,

the portions of said shaft members at one side of the pivot forming apair of operating handles near the pivot, said handles being bent withrespect to said projecting elements for ease of manipulation,

and the portions of the members at the opposite side lern n%2iale"3 e%nil iriie r ifii inner opposed sides whereby on closure of said handles,the said projecting elements open and thereby open the said inneropposed sides.

2. A tool for replacing ring travellers comprising:

a pair of shaft members,

said shaft members being pivotally connected,

the portions of said members at one side of the pivot being bent andforming a pair of operating handies,

and the portions of the members at the opposite side forming a pair ofaligned tapered projecting elements adapted to engage a ring travelleron its inner opposed sides whereby on closure of said handles, the saidprojecting elements open and thereby open the said inner opposed sides.

3. The tool as defined of claim 2 wherein the projecting elements areprovided with guard members.

4. The tool as defined in claim 3 wherein the upper guard member iscurved to cooperate with the projecting elements and the other guardmember, to press on the corner having a V-shaped extension definedbetween the large side of a ring traveler and one of its two adjacentsmall sides, so that the ring traveller can be kept erected or in aposition perpendicular with respect to the sides of the projectingelements.

5. The tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the handles form an angle withthe front end of the projecting elements so that when the projectingelements are onto the sides of a ring traveller, the handles leanbackward.

6. The tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the tapered projectingelements are provided with means to lock in a ring traveller.

7. The tool as defined in claim 2 which comprises .means to urge awaysaid operating handles.

8. The tool as defined in claim 2 which comprises means to control thepath traced out by the projecting elements, so that on closure, theprojecting elements are able to enter just inside the corners definedbetween the long side of a ring traveller and its adjacent sides, and onopening, the projecting elements allow just the necessary extension ofthe ring traveller to permit its passage on or out of the ring rail.

9. The tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the sides of the projectingelements to be in contact with a ring rail are curved to snugly fit intothe shape of the circular ring rail.

1. A tool for replacing ring travellers comprising: a pair of shaftmembers, said shaft members being pivotally connected, the portions ofsaid shaft members at one side of the pivot forming a pair of operatinghandles near the pivot, said handles being bent with respect to saidprojecting elements for ease of manipulation, and the portions of themembers at the opposite side of the pivot forming a pair of alignedprojecting elements adapted to engage a ring traveller on its inneropposed sides whereby on closure of said handles, the said projectingelements open and thereby open the said inner opposed sides.
 2. A toolfor replacing ring travellers comprising: a pair of shaft members, saidshaft members being pivotally connected, the portions of said members atone side of the pivot being bent and forming a pair of operatinghandles, and the portions of the members at the opposite side forming apair of aligned tapered projecting elements adapted to engage a ringtraveller on its inner opposed sides whereby on closure of said handles,the said projecting elements open and thereby open the said inneropposed sides.
 3. The tool as defined of claim 2 wherein the projectingelements are provided with guard members.
 4. The tool as defined inclaim 3 wherein the upper guArd member is curved to cooperate with theprojecting elements and the other guard member, to press on the cornerhaving a V-shaped extension defined between the large side of a ringtraveller and one of its two adjacent small sides, so that the ringtraveller can be kept erected or in a position perpendicular withrespect to the sides of the projecting elements.
 5. The tool as definedin claim 2 wherein the handles form an angle with the front end of theprojecting elements so that when the projecting elements are onto thesides of a ring traveller, the handles lean backward.
 6. The tool asdefined in claim 2 wherein the tapered projecting elements are providedwith means to lock in a ring traveller.
 7. The tool as defined in claim2 which comprises means to urge away said operating handles.
 8. The toolas defined in claim 2 which comprises means to control the path tracedout by the projecting elements, so that on closure, the projectingelements are able to enter just inside the corners defined between thelong side of a ring traveller and its adjacent sides, and on opening,the projecting elements allow just the necessary extension of the ringtraveller to permit its passage on or out of the ring rail.
 9. The toolas defined in claim 2 wherein the sides of the projecting elements to bein contact with a ring rail are curved to snugly fit into the shape ofthe circular ring rail.